Maureen Clavin pioneered the concept of the designer resale store some 35 years ago when she opened her first resale boutique in Los Angeles. A California native raised on a street above the Chateau Marmont Hotel, Maureen came of age during the fabulous 40s’ the Golden Age of Hollywood glamour when every woman aspired to look and dress like a movie star!

Maureen Clavin pioneered the concept of the designer resale store some 35 years ago when she opened her first resale boutique in Los Angeles. A California native raised on a street above the Chateau Marmont Hotel, Maureen came of age during the fabulous 40s’ the Golden Age of Hollywood glamour when every woman aspired to look and dress like a movie star!

Maureen also has a keen sense of style, most evident in the design of her store front and in the clothing, handbags and shoes that she selects to re-sell. When Maureen shops for the store, she only picks the finest and most elegant. Though AdDress Boutique sells mostly to women, it does have does a have a rack of men’s Armani suits at very attractive prices.

Cindy Spade realized that her hobby wasn’t such a strange thing. ” I really got my feet wet in this business in another vintage store before Ver Unica for 2 1/2 years. It was a school of hard knocks, but I was able to come away with a far greater knowledge of the type of business that I would have next.

Ver Unica is a business that grew from a couple of women with like minds…my partner Willow O’Brien and mine. We started Ver Unica in 1997 and have continued to improve and evolve the Ver Unica concept as we go. What makes Ver Unica different from most other vintage boutiques is that we believe in mixing of eras, adding a little new in from established clothing lines and combining bits and pieces here and there from small designers. Our philosophy is about personal style and fashion and enabling our clients to find special pieces that they can buy and add to their closets and collections.

We do all the hard work. We find it, clean it, and repair it before we display it in a very shopper friendly store environment. I would say that we are 65% to 70% vintage, with about 15% new and 15% small designer. These percentages fluctuate somewhat depending upon the season. We don’t do consignment. We get most of our vintage pieces from suppliers in other areas who shop the estate sales, thrift stores, garages sales and flea markets. We also buy by appointment in the store and personal collections form people.

We have a selection of vintage designer pieces such as Gucci, Pucci, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass etc that we offer, but our real bread and butter is pristine vintage of all eras that (don’t always have a big name attached to them) and are amazing additions to anyone’s closet. Our return policy is no money back, we offer store credit, all returns require a receipt with tags attached within a week of purchasing the item.

Sheila Feeney has been an antique dealer, specializing in antique textiles, apparel and accessories for fifteen years. Prior to this, she was a Consultant under the Dukakis Administration, for the Massachusetts Office of Economic Affairs. Sheila was also employed as a Loan Officer for the US Small Business Administration, and served as a Disaster Specialist for the United States Government, requiring extensive travel all over the country.

Sheila Feeney has been an antique dealer, specializing in antique textiles, apparel and accessories for fifteen years. Prior to this, she was a Consultant under the Dukakis Administration, for the Massachusetts Office of Economic Affairs. Sheila was also employed as a Loan Officer for the US Small Business Administration, and served as a Disaster Specialist for the United States Government, requiring extensive travel all over the country.

Sheila had sold vintage clothing and linens to help pay for her college education. Having always had a deep love for beautiful and interesting old things, in 1990 Sheila decided to start her own business as an antique dealer, specializing in antique textiles. She became a successful dealer and shop owner in Massachusetts, and also participated in many of the top antique shows in New England and New York.

With a business education and professional background in business development and financial consulting, combined with her love of antique textiles and fashion, Sheila moved to Manhattan in February, 2000 to take a position as the Manager of the Metropolitan Vintage Fashion Show, which had taken a downward spiral with poor management. Under Sheila’s direction, the show took a completely different direction, attendance was surpassed, revenues increased, press reports became more favorable than ever. Sheila produced four successful shows at the Metropolitan. At that time, the owner of the Metropolitan decided that some family matters would require him to downsize his business.

Sheila left the Metropolitan in May, 2001 to start Sheila Feeney Productions. Her first independent show was to have taken place in September, 2001 at the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan. When the 9/11 disaster occurred, the show was cancelled. Sheila regrouped and her first show was held in February, 2002 at the New Yorker Hotel at 34th Street and 8th Avenue. February, 2004 marked the eighth show and revues have been terrific. The show is beautiful, well laid out, and of the highest caliber. Dealers come from France, England, California, Illinois, Oregon, Maine, Florida and Massachusetts, as well as here in Manhattan to sell their frocks, fine linens, tapestries, as well as a myriad of fabulous accessories.

After relocating to NYC, Karen met Remi Porthault and given her fluency in French, her store management experience and her knowledge of linens, she became a natural choice for the position of store manager in the NYC store. In her spare time, she entertains friends and is the captain of a USTA 4.5 tennis team in Manhattan.

Born in Upstate, N.Y. in 1964, Karen majored in French language and civilization at New York University. Immediately following her graduation,Karen started working in Paris at the NYU-in-France Center as the assistant
to the Director. Thirteen years later she was still living in France and was the proud owner of an antique store in Burgundy. The store specialized in furniture, paintings, antique linens and silver.

After relocating to NYC, Karen met Remi Porthault and given her fluency in French, her store management experience and her knowledge of linens, she became a natural choice for the position of store manager in the NYC store. In her spare time, she entertains friends and is the captain of a USTA 4.5
tennis team in Manhattan.

D. Porthault History
D. Porthault was founded in France in 1920 by Madeleine and Daniel Porthault (hence the D. in D. Porthault). The Porthault’s took an innovative step by creating the first printed and colored linens since everyone at
that time slept only on white linens. The excellent quality of the linens coupled with the beautiful prints quickly established the Porthaults as a premier linen manufacturer, catering to American and European aristocracy and royalty.

There are currently over 2500 different Porthault prints including the signature “Four Leaf Clover” pattern and the Single and Double Heart” patterns. Each year, approximately 40 new designs are created and put into
production. The company’s creations consistently combine a rare standard of good taste, excellent quality and an original sense of design and are recognized as the “haute couture” of linens.

All of Porthaults linens and towels are still manufactured on premises in the same factory in France since 1933. The weaving, dyeing, printing and tailoring are done under the watchful eyes of Marc and Remi Porthault,
respectively the son and grandson of the founders. Flagship stores exist in Paris, New York, Dallas and Dubai.

www.dporthault.com

Ann Sullivan has owned Abrielle in Washington, DC for 18 years. Ann has a passion for what she does and her knowledge of linens and lingerie is deep. Whether it‚s bedding or tabletop, Ann has an opinion. She has a lot of energy and her excitement is contagious!

Abrielle has a tremendous selection and Ann knows about every little piece in her store. She buys from companies all over the world and she is well aware of the care and maintenance needed to maintain all these beautiful fabrics. Abrielle: 202. 364.6118

  Style for Work and Social Events — About 18 months ago I left a lucrative sales position in the medical industry to research and write this book. Since then I’ve traveled extensively throughout the U.S. visiting men’s clothing stores, and continue to do so to provide you with the most current and valuable information on shopping for men’s clothes you’ll find anywhere.

Moderator of the Style Forum
www.styleforum.net

As a related service … Know how to use window coverings that highlights and instantly adds design to your windows that match your style.The Curtain Exchange of Fairfax  is one of 20 some franchise stores in locations ranging from Naples, Florida to Boston, and Houston to Grand Rapids. The Denver store will open this month.

The Curtain Exchange of Fairfax is one of 20 some franchise stores in locations ranging from Naples, Florida to Boston, and Houston to Grand Rapids. The Denver store will opethis month.

The Curtain Exchange applies the concept of “ready to wear” designer dresses to fabric window coverings. Instead of taking a swatch home, or buying a curtain based on how it looks in the store, you get to take several panels home to see how they look in your lighting with the items that will be surrounding them. Once the customer chooses a curtain, they can have 2 pair right off the show room floor. Larger orders usually arrive within 5 weeks.

{mosimage} Robin is a mother of two beautiful daughters and for the past 16 years Robin has worked in the interior design area gaining experience across the country. She has worked as a designer in Florida, Alabama, California, New Mexico, Okinawa Japan, and most recently in Northern Virginia.

In November 2001 Robin became a certified redesign specialist and started her own successful interior redesign business in Fairfax VA. Then in Dec 2003 she opened the Curtain Exchange of Fairfax so as to better balance family and work.

www.thecurtainexchange.com